Differential driving mechanism for automobiles.



v).I L. IVIORRIS. DIFFERENTIAL DRIVING MECHANISM'FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPucATIoN man MA'Y a. 1911.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

' `2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. L. MORRIS. l DIFFRENTIAL DRIVING NIECHANISIYI FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1917.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

d a. I ww II v Q s I ,m un 1|. .wv Pw `h WW m. mh

i einer we rai it ff: ne

EXFEERENTAL DRIVING IQEGHANSM FOR .AUTGD/QOIBXLES.

Specceton o' Letters Patent. l lifntqgniyg@ $543351; QQLQE,

application iiled May 3, 1317. Eneriel No. 166,143.

i o (all whom 'it may Concern:

lie it known that i, .l'osneii L Mounts, a citizen oi the United States, residing" at lawrence, in the countyv of Douglas and State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in l`)ifl"lerential Driving Mechanism for Automobiles, of which the following is a. specification.

My ixiventiou relates to improvements in ditl'ereulial driving mechanism for automohilos.

One of the objects of my invention "to provide a structure having a` maximum amount of clearance between the axle housing' or casing and the ground. rhis object 1 obtain by the t-iinployment of internal axle gear wheels combined with diierential gear ing meehanisn'i connected therewith.

A `further object ot' my invention is to provide differential driving mechanism of novel construction, which is exceedingly strong, of few parts, durable, not liable to get out of order, and which occupies small space.

A further object ot' my invention is to provide a novel housing for support-ing the differential gearing mechanism, which is ceeilingly strong, and which serves as a receptacle for oil in which the running parts, or portions thereof, may he immersed.

My invention provides still further novel means of adjustment of the bearings which support the diii'erential gearing mechanism.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully descrihed and claimed.

ln the ecompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment ot' my invention,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sec tional view of my improved di'i'l'erential driving nnthanisni. y

lf 2 is a cross section on the line 2 2 of Fra'. 1

Fig. 4

a cross section on the line 3-3 Figs. 5 and G are vertical transverse seetional viewsv resl'iertively of the front and rear housing members, such as in Fig. 4f are ,shown secured to each other. l

v a cross section 'on the line at rig. i.

Similar reference .chart-telers designate similar parts in the dil'erent views,

1 designates the usual two rear rotary axles of an automobile.

2 designates two end portions of an axle casing or housing in which the axles 1 are respectively rotatably mounted,

rllhe portions 2 are connected to and are, preferably, integral with the central portion or rear housing member e. which aiiords a housing for the diferem'ial gearing, in connection with a front housing member 3, which is detachahly securedto the rear memher Jr by screws 5, and which closes an opening in the forward side ol the housing member 4, through whieh opening the ditlgerential gearing mechanism and some of the other partsre inserted in assembling the mecha ni:-;1u.l

The inner end portions of the axles 1 are longitudinally grooved and have respectively litted to them collars 7 Iagainst which respectively hear the outer ends 0I" the hubs ot two internal gear wheels 6, mounted respectively on. the grooved end portions of the axles 1, and fitted thereto so as to be rota table therewith.

r'llhe axles 1 are threaded at their inner ends and have respectively mounted thereon two nuts 8, which respectivelybear against the inner ends of the gears 6.

Respectively mounted on the hubs of the gear wheels 6 are two externally threaded sleeves 9, each havingfitted on it two internally threaded hearing rings 10, adjustable on the sleeve and supportingl balls 11 mounted i-n an annular groove 1Q in a hearing; ring 13, which is slidahle in the adjacent axle casing portion Q. Two locking; rings 1i are respectively secured by screws 15 to the rings 10, the rings 111 having tongues 1.6 which respectively enter notches 17 provided in the periphery of the adjacent sleeve 9 at the ends thereof.

For forming an oil receptacle of the axle housing members, two felt collars 18 are respectively fitted on the axles 1 and respectively oear against. two metal collars 1S), the outer sides of which respectively hear against two annular vflanges 20 on the inner sides .respectively of the axle housing` portions 2,

Miti' respectively fitted .in threaded portions of the housing portions The axles l together with the internal gear wheelsy (3 and the bearings supporting' said gear wheels. may be moved outwardly so as 'l o withdraw the gear wheels (S from' the purpose' the gearing housing 3 and l. for l of inserting or removing the differential driving mechanism.

Two gear members are provided at their' outer ends with spur g'ear teeth 24 which respectively mesh with the internal gearl wheels 6. The gear members 23 are rotatable on a horizontal shaft located between and parallel with the axles l and having' one or more I'adial arn'is 2G on which are respectively rotatable bevel gear wheels 27 which mesh with bevel gear teeth 28 provided on the inner ends oiC the g'ear members For rotating' the shaft 253 suitable driving' meansA is provided. vention illustrated, such driving' means com-- prises the following' described iarts.

Two rings 29 and 3() securetr end to end by horizontal bolts 31 concenti'ically encircle the shat't 25 and at their abutting ends are provided with recesses forreceiving the radial arms @(3. The g'ear n'icrnbers 23 are provided resj'iectively with two annular' peripheral flanges 32 respectively fitted in annular grooves provided in the out-er ends of the rings 29 and 30. The g'ear members 23 ai'e thus held properly spaced apart, and the rings 29 and 30 are retained concentric with 'the Shaft Secured by screws 33 to an annular peripheral liange 34- on the ring' Q9 is an annular gear wheel 35 having' bevel teeth which mesh wit-h a pinion 36 secured to tlie'rear end of the driving shaft 37 of the automobile. The shaft 37 may be mounted in suitable bearingsvprovided in the housing4 F or suj'iporting' rotatably the gear meinbcrs 23, said members have mounted on them respectively two bearing' rings 3S on which run balls 39, arranged in two sets which respectively run in bearing rings Lt() mounted respectively in two externally threaded rings 4l, each provided withl an inwardly extending fiang'e which supports the outer side of the adjacent bearing 'ring 40.

rthe rings il are respectively litted in two internally threaded ring' i'orm cheeks lli), which ai'e preferably rearwardly extending' inte ral portions oi" the housing' member 3, Fig, 5. Connecting the cheeks lf2 is an arcuate web 42" which with the cheeks l2 forms a core which 1s'v adapted to contain oil ln the forni of my in- .ably, integral with the housing member 3,

is very rigid and may be more accurately machined and cheaper to malte than a built up bolted together core. rthis is oi" great importance, as the core must stand the strain of the differential driving` mechanism.

The inner end oi' each ring' 41v is provided with a circular row of notches 4t. Respectively secured by screws 45 to the cheeks 4-2 oi the core are two locking` plates 4G, each of which is adapted to be extended into any one of the notches it of the adjacent ring itl for holding' the ringfrom turning' from the position to which it may be adjusted in the adjustn'ient of the bearing' rings 4Q. 'The rings 41 are first` adjusted to their proper j'iositions, at'terwhich the plates i6 are secured to the cheeks 42 by the screws st.

rlfhe rea-1.' side of the housing member 4 is j provided with a screw threaded hole in which is removably AI'itted a screw plug' 47. Upon removing` the plug' oil may be poured into the web 4:3 and housing member l. The gear wheel 35 in turning' will pick up oil, which will thereby bedistributed through the dii'i'erential mechanism. i

By employing the internal gear vwheels (i in combination with the g'ear members 23, differential g'ear wheels Q7, shaft 25, and the driving' g'ear wheel 35, carried by said shaft, a very compact and eiicient differential driving' mechanism is aioitded, iwhich permits of a maximum clearance between the axle or gear housing and the ground. This is a very g'reat advantage, particularly when applied to trucks in which low reduction or slow speed is required.

lith my improvement, employing the internal gear wheels (3, a" reduction in speed is obtaii'iaibile'which is much lower than is possible to obtain, with the saine ground clearance, with the use o't' a compound drive employing pinions and l,spur g'eai' wheels.

in assembling the mechanism7 the trout housing member 3 is removed.y land the iiiternal g'car wheels and bearings therefor. and the rings 15%, 19', 2l and 22, are inserted 'through the opening in the forward side of the housing member 4 and mounted on the axles l. rllie axles tog'tritlier with the gear wheels 3 are then drawn outwardly, so that the gear wheels ('i cleai' the front. opeiiingin the housing member l.

'llie shalt 25, gear members 23, bearingsI therefor and members 39, 3() and 35 are mounted in operative position-iii the cheeks 42 of the housing member 3.' The shaft. B7, pinion 3C and the support t'or the sha t't 37 are mounted in the housing iii'enrlier 3. which is then slipped into its operative Leraars porting the driving axle 37 in the housing- ",'member 3. In the drawing, Fig. 4i, l have shown mechanism for this purpose comprising the following described parts Encircling the shaft 37 is an externally thrfaded ring 48 litted to a threaded inrterior portion of the member 3, and held ,in any desired position by screws 4.9 mount ed in theI housing inember 3. Mounted on the shaft 37 are two bearing rings 50 upon which respectively run two sets of balls 51 which bear respectively upon two rings 52 v"which bear respectively against the ends ot the -ring 48. A .nutf52 mounted on a threaded portion of the shaft 37 bears against the fi'ont.-sifle of the bearing ring 50 adjacent thereto. A lock nut 54 on the threaded part of the shaft 37 bears against a washer 55 which bears against the front side of the nut 54. Ainl externally threaded stutling box 56 encircles the shaft 37 and is fitted in the screw threaded frontv end of the housing member 3.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as modifications, within the vscope ot' the appended claims,

vmay be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Whatl claim iss.- l. In vdiii'erei'itial driving mechanism for automobiles, two rotary axles, two gear wheels respectively rotatable therewith," a,

rotary shaft, two gear members rotatable on said shaft and respectively meshing with said gear wheels, a rotary driving member mounted lon and having driving engagement; with said shaft, and differential 'driving means connecting said gear members and Said driving member.

1. ln differential driving mechanism ifor automobiles, two rotary axles, two gear wheels respectively rotatable therewith, a rotary shatt, two gear members rotatable on lsaid shat't and respectively meshing with said gear wheels, a rotary driving member mounted on and having driving engagement. with said shait, and an intern'iediate gear wheel revoluble with said driving-n'ien'iber and meshing with said two gear members.

3, In differential driving meclmiiism for automobiles, two rotary axles, two inten nal gear wheels respectively rotatable therewith, a rotary shaft, two gear members respec-.tivel)7 meshing with said internal gear wheels, a. driving member revolubie and having` driving engagement with said shaft, and an intermediate gear wheel `revolnble with said shaft and meshing with said gear' members,

l. In diitcrential driving mechanism for va rotary shaft having a radial arm on which the intermediate gear wheel is rotatable and carrying and rotatable by said driving member.

5. ln differential drivin, mechanism for automobiles, two rotary axles, two internal gear wheels rotatable respectively there with, two gear members respectively meshing with said internal gear wheels, bearing means rotatably supporting said `gear members, a shaft rotatably mounted in said gear men'xbers, a driving member revoluble and having driving eiigagement with said shaft, and an intermediate gear wheel meshing with said gear members and revoluble with and rotatable on said shaft.

G. ln differential driving mechanism for automobiles, two rotary axles, two gear wheels respectively rotatable therewith, hearing means, two gear members n'iounted on said bearing means and respectively meshing with said gear wheels, a shaft rotatably mounted in said two gear members and having a radial arm, a driving1 mcniber revoluble and having driving engagement wih said shaft, and an intcrmedite gear wheel rotatable onsaid arm and meshing with said two gear members.

ln diit'erential driving i'nechanismfor automobiles two rotar axles two internal n y i Aand differentialgearing mechanism supported by said bearings.

9. In differential Idriving mechanism for automobiles, an-axlehousing having a core provided with two cheeks ot ring form and an arcuate web connecting the cheeks and having its` concave side up and adapted to serve as a receptacle iior oil, the cheeks having means tor supporting bearings.

10. in ditterential driving mechanism for automobiles, an axle housing having a core provided with two ring forni cheeks each of which internally screw threaded, and aii arcuate web connecting the cheeks, two externally threaded bearing members re spectively fitted in said cheeks, and releasable means for locking the bearing members in. positions to which they may be adjusted in. said cheeks.

11. ln differential driving mechanism for automobiles, an axle housing having a core provided with two parallel ring 'form cheeks and a web connecting the cheeks and arranged with the cheeks to serve as an oil receptacle, the cheeks having means for supporting differential gearing mechanism.

12. In diiierential driving mechanism for automobiles, an axle housing having a core provided with two internally threaded ring form cheeks, and an arcuate web connecting said cheeks and arranged with said cheeks totorm an oil receptacle, two externallytlireadedbearing members respectively `fitted in said cheeks, rcleasable means for locking said bearing members in the positions to which they may be adjusted,'two bearings respectively mounted iii said bearing members, and diiiierential gearing mechanism supported by said bearings.

123. ln differentialr driving mechanism 'for automobiles, an axle housing having a core provided with two cheelsof ring` i'orni,'two gear members, a sliaftrotatable in and sups ported by said gear members and provided with a radial arm, two bearing means resi'eetively mounted iii said cheeks and respectively supporting said gear members, an intermediate gear wheel meshing with said gear members and rotatable on said arm, and a driving member encircling said shaft and mounted on said arm and revol uble therewith.

14. ln differential driving mechanism for automobiles, a rotary shaft having a radial arm, two gear members rotatable on and supporting said shaft, a gear wheel, connect- Leraars supporting said gear members, a rotary shaft rotatable in and supported by said gea-r member and havingI a radial arm, an annular driving member encircling said-shaft and revoluble therewith and held by said gear members from longitudinal movement, and an intermediate gear wheel rotatable on said arm and meshing with said gear members.

16. In dilferential driving mechanism for automobiles, two gear members, bearing means supporting said members, a shaft rotatable in and supported by said members and having a radial arm, a driving member encircling said gear members and held thereby from longitudinal movement and revoluble with said shaft, and an` intermediate gear wheel rotatable on said arm meshing with said gear members.

17.111 differential driving mechanism-for automobiles, a rotary shaft, a driving inember encircling and revoliible with said shaft, two gear members rotatable on and supporting said shaft and provided respectively with two peripheral flanges respectively env gaging opposite ends of said driving` inember for holding the latter from eiidwise movement, an intermediate gear wheel meshing with said gear members, two bearing means respectively supporting said gear members and adjustable toward and from eachother, two rotary axles, and two gear wheels respectively rotatable with said axles and respectively meshing with said gear members. V

18. ln differential driving mechanism for automobiles, a rotary shaft having a radial arm, two gear members rotatable on said shaft't, driving means encircling and revoluble and having drivingengagement with said shaft, and an intermediate gear wheel meshing with said gear members and rotatable on said arm.

1), In differential driving mechanism for automobiles, a shaft, two gear members rotatable thereon, two bearing means respectively supporting said gear members and adjusta ble toward and from each other, driving member'revoluble on the axis of said shaft, and an intermediate gear wheel meshing with said gear members and revoluble with said driving member and rotatable on an axis disposed radially to said shaft.

20. in ('liti'erential driving mechanism for automobiles, a shaft, two gear members rotatable thereon, a driving member i'evoluble with respect to said gear members, an intermediate gear wheel revoluble with said driving` member and meshing with said gear members and rotatable on an axis disposed radially to the axis of the driving member, a support, and two bearing means respectively supporting said gear members and including two rings adjustable 4 toward and from each other on said support. l

2l, In differential driving mechanism for arm, two gear members rotatable thereonand having each a peripheral flange, an annular driving means encircling said shaftA and revoluble therewith and engaging said flanges for holding t-he gear members .spaced apart, and an intermediate gear wheel ro.- tatable on said arm and meshing with said gear members. 22. In differential driving mechanism for f automobiles, a shaft, two gear wheels rotatable thereon, two bearing means respectively ,supporting said gear wheels, an annular ,driving means encircling said shaft and revoluble with respect to said gear Wheels and engaging the latter for holding them spaced apart, and an intermediate gear wheel mesh- -ing with said gear wheels and revoluble with said driving means and rotatable on an .axis disposed radially to the axis of kthe driving means.

23. In differential driving mechanism for automobiles, a rotary shaft having a radial arm, two gear members rotatable thereon, a

r'evoluble driving member encircling said `wheel meshing with shaft and engaging said arm and engaging said gear members Ifor holding the latter spaced apart, an intermediate'gear wheel meshing with said gear members and rotatable on said arm, bearing means respectively supporting said gear members, two rotary axles, and .two internal gear wheels respectivelyrotatable-with said axles and respectively meshing with said gear members.

24. In differential driving mechanism for automobiles, a rotary shaft having a radial arm, two gear members rotatable on said shaft, bearing meanssupporting said gear members, a supportonwhich the bearing means` are adjustable toward and from each other, an annular driving means encircling lsaid shaft and engaging said 'arm and revoluble y therewith an intermediate` gear said gear members, two

rotary axles, and tWo internal gear wheels respectively rotatable with the axles and respectively meshing with said gear members. In testimony whereof I ,have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH L. MORRIS. 

